Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis calls maiden budget ‘courageous’

Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said his government's maiden budget focusses on the welfare of farmers, women, youth and rural infrastructure.

Talking to reporters after the Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar presented the budget in the Legislative Assembly, Fadnavis said despite the state not being in a financially sound condition, the budget proposals were courageous and would lead to progress and development.

"Earlier the plan size used to increase but the capital expenditure would be around Rs 18-22,000 crore. This time the capex has been increased to Rs 28,000 crore. There is a quantum jump. We have ensured proper allocation of funds," he said.

Mungantiwar told reporters that the budget was not expenditure-centric but output-centric. "We are trustees of the people's money and would work hard to ensure that the budget proposals are implemented in letter and spirit," he said.

Fadnavis said that a revenue of Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000 crore were expected through increase in premium on the additional floor space index (FSI).